This is the first week of Jamie Ridler's Book blogging of Martha Beck's "The Joy Diet"
So, my fellow dieters, how did you make out fitting 15 minutes of nothing into your days?
I know alot of people might say they are too busy to fit 15 minutes of nothing into their days, but I can't use that reason. I AM NOT too busy, I work a part time job which gets me home between 2 and 3 most days I have no children and my husband does not get home until after 4pm. So...unless I have an errand to run I really do have the TIME to fit in 15 minutes of nothing a day.
So how did it go you ask, not so good I reply. I have learned that from the minute I get home until I go to sleep I am constantly distracting myself with either the TV, or reading during the times of nothingness. I have come to the conclusion that I just don't want to be alone with my own thoughts and I unconsciously distract myself all the time. I can't just sit and meditate, I always had a problem with that. The only time I can get close to a meditative state is when I am creating, but that is not really doing nothing, is it?
I thought this is not going well and I will have nothing to share with the group about doing nothing. Then at the end of the week I noticed something, I noticed that I am quite ok doing nothing when I am OUTSIDE, even if it is just sitting on my front porch amidst the sounds of birds and cars. During this time I am really not thinking about anything.. YIPPPEEE, finally I found my nothing spot. I find I am at peace in nature be it on my front porch, a park, by the ocean and so on.
Ah, but the catch is this, I avoid doing this for some reason which has yet to be discovered. Maybe I will discover the reason while on this journey with you.
I hope your first week was full of good nothingness.
The picture above represents my vision card for nothingness, just sitting outside enjoying nature.
My moment of joy this week: Playing catch with my puppy Bella, she really loves it and I swear she smiles the whole time!!!
Until next week fellow dieters.
Namaste,
Karen
30 comments:
once you get the hang of doing nothing, it becomes pretty addictive ;) love the pic! it is the perfect symbol of nothing :)
What a great discovery to find your nothing spot. Now to do it. I suggest scheduling it. By showing up each day and feeling the effects, my guess is that you will seek it out and miss it when you don't do it.
I look forward to sharing the personal retreats workshop with you. There is a lot more than nothing planned for it!
i like your nothing spot - nature, especially the ocean, does wonders for my soul. maybe you can enjoy your nothing time with your puppy bella after wearing her out on a nature walk?! xo, kaileenelise
I think your comment "I am constantly distracting myself" is very telling. You've learned something valuable from the week of nothing..that you are fine outside, but inside you find other things to do rather than do nothing. As if you don't feel you can give yourself permission. It will be interesting for you to discover why it is that you feel the need to do this...and I think that if part of the journey to joy.
I love that you called it your nothingness spot. Nature can be so healing in so many ways. I love sitting by my bedroom window and just gazing out.
I so get it Karen...thanks for sharing your 'nothing spot' with us, it's a beautiful place!
Truly doing nothing is magical. Thanks for sharing.
Bravo to you for finding your nothingness spot, and defining your practice for YOU! How beautiful!
First, thank you for your comment on my blog. I like your approach -- as you know I had a problem with "nothing" also. Your post reminded me that I, too, find it much easier to do nothing when I am outside in nature. Well I do a little: I drink in the sights and sounds -- but that's all I do, no processing or analysis. Just pure experience -- which is exactly what restores and refreshes my frantic monkey mind. Next week I too will go outside for my "nothing" time.
Thank you for sharing. I truly enjoyed your posting!
Oh yes, I can relate too. Nice discovery you made about nature. It will be interesting to explore why we avoid & distract ourselves from good things like the 'nothing spot'. Thanks for sharing.
I really enjoyed your post. We are allot alike in the fight against nothing. It is like my adventure in happiness.Tell your self you have to do it and enjoy it till you believe your self, You have to brain wash your self.
See ya next week. Thank for stopping by.
love reading your thoughts on this......and I too find I can just SIT and do nothing by being out in Mother Nature! I think it is because our souls connect with it better than it can indoors surrounded by metals, plastics, noise...etc. Thanks for your visit!
I can relate to having the time to do nothing, but avoiding to do it. It requires an effort, but it's worth it, in the end. I also understand the peace that nature brings you. I hadn't thought of doing nothing outside, but now I'm definitely going to try that sometime!
I find that the setting is very important in centering ourselves. Some places are more conducive than others to doing "nothing", shutting off the unnecessary and being at peace. It's awesome that you found yours! :)
I have just the opposite "problem" -- I can sit on our love seat, close my eyes and relax into Nothingness for several minutes, but I have an aversion to taking my Nothing time outside. Why? I duuno. I actually love to sit on our back porch and feel the wind wash through me; I just never think to do it -- or I come up with excuses not to. I'm going to make a commitment, here and now, to try meditating outside at least once this week! Thanks for the impetus!
Love your photo and description of your own "Amanpuri!"
What a wonderful discovery you made this week. Nature is such a great kind into nothing. Love your photo as well.
I love your spot. I could be quiet/calm -- find nothing there. You've made a wonderful discovery.
I still need to find my spot. I tried imagining but that didn't work. Maybe I'll follow your lead and just sit quietly outside and listen to nature. I so want to find this 'special state' that others refer to!!
You've discovered quite a bit this past week. It seems we each need to find our own nothing spot, be it in nature, in the bathtub, chanting or what-have-you. I'm glad you found your nothing spot; now to discern why you hesitate going there. I think we'll all learn more about ourselves than we realize as the weeks go by.
Nature works for a lot of people. That's where doing Nothing is easiest for me, especially on the shore of a lake, reservoir, or pond. (Given that I'm landlocked in Kentucky.) Yay for finding your spot!
You probably will figure out why you avoid Nothing this coming week, since it's truth week!
It's good to be on this trip with you. I wish you much joy in the coming week! :)
This is my first time here...what a lovely blog!! Oh the television! It's a love hate relationship isn't it? hehe good luck on your journey! <3
When you get used to doing 'nothing' in your favourite spot, you will find it a lot easier to do 'nothing' anywhere. :) Distractions can be one of the biggest things to overcome when trying to set a routine of nothingness.
This week I'll try taking my Nothing outside. The backside of the office I work in is a deck over a lake. And no one goes out there... brilliant!
I share your wrangling with distraction. And I imagine there's good reason why Truth comes next. This week looks to have some heavy lifting.
But I think we're in good company. :)
bright blessings!
Hello Karen,
I like the thought of sitting outside amongst nature, wether that be in a garden or the beach. I like the picture of the bench in a beautiful green garden!
I too get distracted easily, my biggest trouble is feeling resistance to doing 'nothing'. Or I sit there feeling like I should be doing something else.
Heres' to finding our tuth for next week, thanks for visiting, Angie:)
You are definitely on to something - sounds like it will be an important week for you. Love the picture of the seat in the garden. Several years ago I went down to the bottom of our yard where there was a bench to meditate - and when I looked up there was a deer peeking at me under the fence - it became a laughing meditation.
So wonderful for you to have Bella to share joy with. Puppies are great - can't have one for a variety of reasons, but I do love them. Love how they wiggle almost out of their skin.
Good for you for keeping at it even when nothing didn't come easily!
I love the idea of a nothingness spot. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences this week.
I like the fact that going outdoors welcomes nothingness! Thanks for sharing!
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